Coordination of USDA’s NCR-SARE Program

William Wilcke, Professor, Extension Engineer, and Regional Coordinator of the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Program
NCR-SARE Staff at the University of Nebraska and Kansas State University

Objective

The NCR-SARE program strengthens rural communities, increases farmer/rancher profitability, and improves the environment by supporting research and education.

Need or Impact

Many people are concerned about whether our predominant forms of agriculture have long-term sustainability (maintain profitability, protect the environment, and maintain quality of life and social justice). The USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant program was created by Congress to provide funding for research and education projects that will help improve the sustainability of United States agriculture. The host institution for this program in the 12-state North Central Region has been the University of Nebraska in Lincoln (UNL). There is currently a memorandum of understanding between UNL and the University of Minnesota for Bill Wilcke to provide coordination and leadership of the NCR-SARE program. During the last year, the University of Minnesota responded to a call for bids to host the NCR-SARE program. The University of Minnesota bid was accepted and the program will be transitioning to St Paul over the next several years. The NCR-SARE program receives about $3.5 million per year from the USDA. Most of this money is distributed to researchers, educators, non-profits, graduate students, and farmers through four competitive grant programs.

Program Status

Ongoing. During the coming year, an NCR-SARE office will be established and staff will be hired at the University of Minnesota in St Paul.